Congressman Charlie Dent will chair a House spending panel focused on veterans affairs and military construction.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers, R-KY, on Thursday announced his panel's 12 "cardinals" — Capitol Hill shorthand for the people who run the spending panel's powerful subcommittees.

"Over the next two years, we will have some big challenges and a full plate of 'to-dos' ahead of us as we continue to fight for stability, continuity, and responsibility in the federal budget process," Roger said in a press release put out Thursday morning.

"I eagerly look forward to taking on the great responsibility of serving as chairman … ," Dent said in a statement. "The subcommittee is responsible for ensuring appropriate funding for and exercising critical oversight of housing, training and medical facilities for our service members and the services and benefits guaranteed to our veterans."

The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee controls the 3rd largest amount of discretionary spending of the subcommittees, according to Dent's office. It is responsible for more than $71 billion in discretionary spending and overall has oversight of more than $161 billion of federal spending.

The panel helps oversees funding for military construction efforts for all branches of the military including Guard and Reserve Forces. It also designates funds to provide housing and services for military personnel and their families and base upkeep. Finally, it also directs funding to veterans' benefits and programs.

Republican Dent, 54, of Allentown, will take the reins when the new Congress assumes control in January.